- 1
- Canst thou drawe out Leuiathan with an hooke, or binde his tongue with a corde?
- 2
- Canst thou put a hooke in the nose of him, or bore his iawe through with a naule?
- 3
- Wyl he make many faire wordes with thee [thinkest thou] or flatter thee?
- 4
- Wyll he make a couenaunt with thee?
or wilt thou take him for a seruaunt for euer?
- 5
- Wylt thou take thy pastime with him as with a birde, wilt thou binde him for thy maydens?
- 6
- That thy companions may make a refection of him: or shall he be parted among the marchauntes?
- 7
- Canst thou fil the basket with his skin?
or the fishe panier with his head?
- 8
- Laye thyne hande vpon him, remember the battaile, and do no more so.
- 9
- Beholde his hope is in vaine: for shall not one perishe euen at the sight of him?
- 10
- No man is so fierce that dare stirre him vp: Who is able to stande before me?
- 11
- Or who hath geuen me any thyng aforehande, that I may rewarde him againe?
All thinges vnder heauen are myne.
- 12
- I wyll not keepe secrete his great strength, his power, nor his comely proportion.
- 13
- Who can discouer the face of his garment?
or who shall come to him with a double brydle?
- 14
- Who shall open the doores of his face?
for he hath horrible teeth round about.
- 15
- His scales are as it were strong shieldes, so fastened together as if they were sealed:
- 16
- One is so ioyned to another, that no ayre can come in:
- 17
- Yea, one hangeth so vpon another, & sticketh so together, that they can not be sundred.
- 18
- His neesinges make a glistering like fyre, and his eyes lyke the morning shine.
- 19
- Out of his mouth go torches, and sparkes of fire leape out.
- 20
- And out of his nostrels there goeth a smoke, lyke as out of an hotte seething pot, or caldron.
- 21
- His breath maketh the coles burne, and the flambe goeth out of his mouth.
- 22
- In his necke ther remaineth strength, and nothing is to labourous for him.
- 23
- The members of his body are ioyned [so strait one to another,] and cleaue so fast together, that he cannot be moued.
- 24
- His heart is as hard as a stone, and as fast as the stythie that the smyth smiteth vpon.
- 25
- When he goeth the mightie are afraide, and feare troubleth them.
- 26
- If any man drawe out a sword at him, it shall not hurt him: there may neither speare, laueling, nor brestplate abide him.
- 27
- He setteth asmuch by iron as by a strawe, and asmuch by brasse as by a rotten sticke.
- 28
- He starteth not away from him that bendeth the bowe: & as for sling stones he careth asmuch for stouble as for the.
- 29
- He counteth the dartes no better then a strawe, he laugheth him to scorne that shaketh the speare.
- 30
- Sharpe stones are vnder him lyke potsheardes, and he lyeth vpon sharpe thinges as vpon the soft myre.
- 31
- He maketh the deepe to boyle lyke a pot, and stirreth the sea together lyke an oyntment.
- 32
- He maketh the path to be seene after him, and he maketh the deepe to seeme all hoarie.
- 33
- Upon earth there is no power lyke vnto his: for he is so made that he feareth not.
- 34
- He beholdeth all the hye thinges, he is a king ouer all the children of pride.
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